ISLAMABAD, June 29: The government will provide training to 25,000 teachers of secondary and higher secondary level in information technology during the current financial year.

This was stated by Minister for Science and Technology, Prof Dr Ataur Rehman, at a launching ceremony of a book titled “Secrets of electronic commerce, a guide for small and medium- sized exporters” here on Saturday.

The minister said 10,000 teachers would be imparted training in IT by the end of December, while the remaining 15,000 by the end of April 2003.

He said the government was committed to providing the cheapest IT education like other countries of the region. He said in 1992, internet services were available only in 29 major cities, which had now been extended to almost 800 towns, cities and villages.

He said the exemption of tax on the import of IT-related products would encourage the growth of information technology in the country.

Dr Ata was of the opinion that the promotion and growth of IT would help improve the country’s dwindling economy. He said e- commerce law was approved by the cabinet, which would shortly be promulgated.